Safa misses Gender Commission deadline

The long-awaited meeting between the South African Football Association (Safa) and its former associate, the South African Women’s Football Association (Sawfa), will finally take place this week.

Safa missed the 90-day deadline set by the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) to iron out its differences with Sawfa.

In June, Safa was hauled before the commission to answer questions about its low targets and slow pace in addressing gender issues.

Sawfa has accused Safa of dragging its feet in addressing gender transformation.

Sawfa deputy president Molegadi Molelekoa said Safa only contacted them this week.

She confirmed that the meeting would take place on Thursday.

Molelekoa said: “We are looking forward to the meeting as we were very frustrated. The matter is now long overdue.”

The women’s association accuses Safa of disbanding it in 1999 and since then refusing to reinstate it as an associate member.

CGE commissioner Mfanozelwe Shozi said the commission has completed its final draft report following the public hearing, which was held in June.

He said: “A wide range of information was presented and numerous recommendations aimed at addressing the slow pace of gender transformation in respect of women’s football were made.

“To ensure that the process is effective, the report has to be adopted by the legal committee and then shared with the parties concerned, Safa and Sawfa.

“It is envisaged that the recommendations contained in the report will assist in promoting the requisite gender transformation that is necessary. Once the parties have been consulted on the report, it will then be available to the public.”

Safa spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi confirmed the meeting will take place this week.

He said: “We send notices to Sawfa but they don’t have a physical address and trying to tie them down to a meeting was very difficult.

“We have always been ready for such a meeting but the problem was from their side. We are hopeful that when we meet we will finalise all outstanding issues to take our sport forward.”

At the hearing, Safa was asked for:

» A report on the number of sexual harassment cases in the past five years and how they were resolved;» Information on Safa membership requirements;» Detailed information to prove that programmes have been formulated and implemented to support and uplift women’s football;» Evidence regarding funding, sponsorships and/or any attempts to solicit support for women’s football; » Information on transformation of structures to ensure an equitable representation of women footballers since 1997;» Reasons for the termination of Sawfa’s membership;» Information on any policy that promotes gender equality;» A list of achievements made in gender transformation in the organisation;» Details of the gaps and challenges encountered with regard to support for women and men’s football;» Safa employment equity plan;» Any support programmes that were given to professional women footballers during their careers; and» Information on what percentage has been allocated or spent on the advancement of the interests of women’s football.